Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 6, Nashville Sounds (Brewers) 4 — (7 inn.)
The Norfolk Tides’ season opener was a wet and wacky one. For six innings, the Tides’ offense looked hopeless, garnering just two hits as they fell into a 4-0 hole. But the game flipped on its head in a wild, six-run bottom of the seventh — and I literally mean “wild.” Nashville pitchers issued three consecutive walks after an inning-opening error, with Enrique Bradfield Jr. taking a four-pitch free pass to force home the first run.
Advertisement
That opened the floodgates for the Norfolk bats. Pinch-hitter Willy Vasquez roped a double to score two more runs before Weston Wilson’s RBI single tied the game at four. The Sounds got wild again, uncorking a wild pitch that plated Vasquez with the go-ahead run. With two down, Sam Huff’s RBI knock added an insurance run, completing an inning in which the Tides sent 10 batters to the plate.
The rally came just in the nick of time, as heavy rain enveloped the Harbor Park Field and forced the cancellation of the final two innings. That goes down as a win for the Tides, unconventional as it may be.
Before the late dramatics, Norfolk starter Trey Gibson — the Orioles’ top pitching prospect — struggled in his Opening Day assignment. Gibson lasted only three innings and threw just 44 of his 79 pitches for strikes, issuing an ugly five walks. He also got himself into trouble in the second inning by failing to cover the bag on a grounder to first, putting a runner on base who later scored. It’s safe to say that Gibson still has some things he needs to work on.
Jackson Holliday has already begun his rehab assignment, so it shouldn’t be too long before he’s back with the Orioles. He looked a little rusty in this one, going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a walk. Bradfield, meanwhile, did a good job setting the table from the leadoff spot, reaching base twice. Catcher Creed Willems had a tough time behind the plate, failing to throw out any of the Sounds’ three basestealers and also committing an error.
Saturday’s scheduled game:
Norfolk vs. Nashville, 6:35 PM. Starter: Nestor German (season debut)